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Hello once again Dakka! It's been almost two years since my last battle report, but with the new Tau codex release I've been inspired to get back in the game. This past weekend my school's war game club meeting featured my newly revamped Tau and allied Marines battling my friend's Blood Ravens (Dark Angels rules). This is going to be a story report with several pictures, so if either of those aren't in your wheelhouse, you've been warned. I would also like to apologize for the quality of the lighting in the photos. The sun was being uncooperative and it's hard to close the blinds when the windows are 15 ft above ground. Without further ado, let's get into the action.

Shas'o M'yen Hunter Cadre:

HQ
Commander w/ Multi-Spectrum Sensor Suite, Command and Control Node and 2x Shield Drones - 144 pts

Troops
8x Fire Warriors - 72 pts
8x Fire Warriors - 72 pts
8x Fire Warriors - 72 pts
16x Kroot w/ Sniper Rounds - 112 pts

Elites
Riptide w/ Ion Accelerator and Stim Injector - 220 pts
3x Stealth Suits - 90 pts

Fast Attack
10x Pathfinders - 110 pts

Heavy Support
3x Broadsides w/ High-Yield Missile Pods, 2x Velocity Trackers, 1x Target Lock and 6x Missile Drones - 312 pts

Allied Detachment (Doom Eagles Mournwing)
Master of the Forge - 100 pts

10x Tactical Marines w/ Missile Launcher - 170 pts

Drop Pod - 35 pts

2x Lucius Pattern Drop Pods - 130 pts

2x Dreadnoughts - 210 pts

Total: 1849 pts

Blood Ravens (Dark Angels)

HQ
Belial w/ Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield - 190 pts
Command Squad w/ Librarian, 5x Storm Shield, Standard of Fortitude, 5x Bolters and 3x Melta Bombs - 340 pts

Troops
10 Tactical Marines w/ Plasma Gun, Lascannon and Meltabombs - 170 pts
10 Tactical Marines w/ Plasma Gun, Lascannon and Meltabombs - 170 pts
10 Tactical Marines w/ Plasma Gun, Lascannon and Meltabombs - 170 pts

Elites
Dreadnought w/ TL Autocannon and TL Lascannon - 135 pts
Deathwing Terminator Squad w/ Assault Cannon - 240 pts

Heavy Support
Predator w/ TL Lascannon and Sponson Heavy Bolters - 120 pts
Predator w/ TL Lascannon and Sponson Heavy Bolters - 120 pts
10 Devastators w/ 4 Plasma Cannons and Melta Bombs - 195 pts

Total: 1850 pts


Mission: The Relic (represented by the nickel in the middle of the map)
Deployment: Vanguard Strike (Blood Ravens choose sides)
First Turn: Tau (Blood Ravens fail to seize the initiative)
Warlord Traits: Exemplar of the Selfless Cause (Tau)
The Hunt (Blood Ravens)

"Targets sighted," came the relay from the Pathfinder team positioned over the ridge. "Enemy armor advancing. The gue'ron'sha report was accurate." Shas'o M'yen had had little doubt that the information was correct. It had been almost six months since the day that the M'yen Hunter Cadre had encountered the Mournwing marines of the Doom Eagles, when fierce fighting between the two had become a test for survival as Tyranid spores had descended from the clouds. Since that battle, the marines had proven to be invaluable allies, if not for the Greater Good, at least against the y'he menace. It was their intelligence that had alerted O'yen to the presence of an ancient deactivated shield generator of unknown origin on the surface of Kalandar. Techmarine Mikaeus had suggested that a detachment be sent to retrieve the device, but the urgency of the transmission had concerned O'yen. Moments later, one of the Air caste pilots informed the commander of the appearance of another Marine vessel in the area, this one bearing an insignia that O'yen had never seen before. Almost immediately Mikaeus had sent another transmission to O'yen, urging the commander to recover the tech as quickly as possible. Wary, but trusting of the marine he had fought side by side with, O'yen agreed. Now he found himself directing a squad of Broadside battlesuits into an easily defended position while the rumble of advancing armor signified an enemy's approach.


Tau/Marine Deployment


Blood Ravens Deployment

"Kroot auxiliaries and stealth team are in position, Commander," reported the pilot in the Orca dropship flying above the battle. "Awaiting orders."
O'yen thought for a moment as to why his gue'ron'sha allies were willingly entering battle with others of their ilk, but did not dwell long on that fact. Mikaeus's reasons were his own. "All units, engage," he ordered into his communications node. Suddenly, there came a loud rushing from above as two drop pods streaked toward the battlefield. Each landed next to a Predator, and there was a burst of metal as Dreadnoughts emerged from both.



The experimental XV-104 RIptide started forward, and O'yen noticed a small explosion emanate from the suit's nova core. Nonetheless, the suit fired a blast from its ion accelerator that landed on a Predator, damaging its drive train and rooting it in place. The Dreadnought that had emerged from a drop pod behind the enemy's Dreadnought fired a melta charge into the back of its foe, causing a ball of fire to envelop the walker. The second Mournwing Dreadnought was more zealous, choosing to charge directly into the Predator in front of it, tearing it to shreds.



"Commander! Behind you!" came the warning from the pilot circling above. O'yen turned just in time to see a squad of heavily armored marines slam into the ground behind him, weapons at the ready. O'yen balked at the figure in the center of the group. The armor he wore was markedly different from the rest worn by his squad, and radiated power.



Returning his attention to the main battlefield, O'yen was dismayed to see most of the marines that had made planetfall with him vaporized by a salvo of plasma fire. The Dreadnought that had destroyed the Predator had turned its attention to the nearby squad of marines, only to be felled by a lascannon shot to the midsection. Its counterpart was decidedly luckier, managing to only be momentarily stunned as the drop pod it had arrived in exploded. The sound of gunfire behind him reminded O'yen that hostiles had landed there, and he watched in horror as four of the nearby pathfinder squad was destroyed in a hail of assault cannon fire.



"Engage rear targets! Maximum firepower!" shouted O'yen. Almost immediately, the Pathfinders that had been fired upon activated their target designators, and three Fire Warrior squads fired. At the same time, O'yen directed the missile drones in his squad to fire as the Broadsides unleashed their payload on the unsuspecting newly arrived marines. As the smoke cleared, the only remnants of the squad were several scattered bits of power armor. The threat eliminated, O'yen returned his focus to the main battlefield, and what he saw surprised him. The Kroot mercenaries had laid low a squad of marines, and were whooping at the prospect of the impending feast. The Riptide, as more explosions ripped through its nova reactor, continued to fire its ion accelerator at the group of advancing marines, obliterating the squad that had fired the plasma cannons.



The marines slowed their advance, wary of the firepower they were experiencing. The Kroot had given up the element of surprise and, after realizing the strength of the marine weaponry they faced, exited the battlefield before they could be ripped to shreds by bolter fire. The remaining Dreadnought was dispatched by a lone lascannon shot, and O'Yen cursed under his breath.



O'yen's marine allies pressed on, Techmarine Mikaeus urging them forward. The Riptide fired another ion accelerator round into the mass of approaching marines, but immediately after firing, turned bright red and began smoking. The pilot dropped the weapon, unused to the sensation.



Seeing their opportunity, the advancing marines fired several lascannon shots at the Riptide, which took two hits to its legs before toppling.



O'yen watched as Techmarine Mikaeus and the two remaining marines made a grab for the generator, and the sergeant clutched the tech to his chest as the marines fell back. "Kor Squad, advance!" O'yen shouted into his communications array. "Protect the gue'ron'sha!" The Fire Warriors wasted no time in leaping from cover and marching across the battlefield. Another roaring overhead signified a drop pod arriving, this one smashing into the ground in front of the marines, cutting off their advance on the left flank.



The closest enemy marine squad entered the building. O'yen reasoned they were attempting to find a better line of sight to the Mournwing marines. However, the tactics failed, and the remaining marines were able to weather the storm of fire.



O'yen gave the order, and pulse rifle shots and missiles streaked toward the advancing marines, obliterating anything within range. Kor Squad moved up to support the retreating Mournwings, and the Windknife stealth team placed themselves between the oncoming marines and their retreating allies.



Ignoring the ever-shifting armor of the stealth team, the marines continued to pour fire into the retreating Mournwing squad. O'yen watched as bolter fire finally managed to fell Mikaeus's squad, and the techmarine fell in an attempt to recover the generator.



"All units, advance!"shouted O'yen. "Recover the generator and recover survivors!" All fire warrior teams advanced as the broadsides continued to unload their missile payloads at any marines within range. Kor team advanced, grabbing the generator as well as any marines that had survived the bolter fire. O'yen was relieved to hear that the survivors included Mikaeus. "The gue'ron'sha are top priority," transmitted O'yen. "If the decision must be made, drop the generator."



The marines continued to advance, even as their numbers dwindled. Several members of Kor squad were cut down by bolter fire and, realizing that their armor was not effective, elected to retreat toward the Tau line, where they could be more easily covered by the rest of the cadre. The enemy, realizing that any attempt to recover the generator would result in meeting the full brunt of the Tau weaponry, elected to quit the battlefield, securing the day for the Tau.



Relic: Not Held
Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord (Tau)
First Blood (Tau)
Linebreaker (None)

Victory: Tau

As O'yen advanced his suit across the battlefield to see to the evacuation of Mikaeus's squad, the pilot of the Riptide was emerging from the wreckage. "Commander," he said as he saluted, "the Earth caste builders need to address the issues with the nova reactor. It started malfunctioning as soon as it was activated." "Noted," replied O'yen, "gather what you can and board the Orca. We will speak to the crafters once we return to the Manta." O'yen continued on his path, approached the living marines and stood guard until the Mournwing apothecaries arrived.

A very nice batrep, the fluff was pretty clear of what was happening, thanks for that. I likedit, and I'm also insanely jealous of a school with a gaming league!

Thanks jifel! I'm trying to blend the game itself with the story, so it's good to hear that it's easily understood. As for having a school gaming club (assuming you're in a school that doesn't have one), check with your student government to see what the process is for creating a student organization. Myself and two others started Case Western's program our freshman year, and it's been going strong ever since.

Nice report! I thought the Lucious drop pods were only 50pts each though. Maybe I was looking in an old book.